RTC North is delighted to announce that it will be delivering lean manufacturing support for companies across Scotland over the next three years.

RTC manufacturing specialists will be working as providers under a framework contract managed by the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) and funded by development agency, Scottish Enterprise.

The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service delivers a high-profile programme that helps manufacturing businesses across Scotland improve their competitiveness.

SMAS is staffed by practitioners with a proven track record of troubleshooting across a wide range of technologies and industrial sectors in Scotland.

The practitioner team for the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) and its associate framework consists of experts in the areas of:

Process improvement

Lean manufacturing

Innovation

Allied disciplines

Coaching and mentoring

The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service has an excellent market reputation and has appointed RTC North as one of its associates, to provide support over the next three years.

RTC has extensive experience in delivering successful public sector projects through using both internal resources and a broad network of associates, consultants and coaches.

The company was set up in 1989 to help manufacturers grow through the development of new products and more innovative working practices. Since its formation, RTC has assisted over 7000 businesses through a mix of commercial consultancy and the delivery of a succession of large publicly financed programmes.

Set up in 1989 in Sunderland, RTC was one of 12 Regional Technology Centres established around the country to help businesses develop new products and services by accessing expertise within regional universities.

Today, the company employs 65 people at offices in Sunderland, Leeds and Daresbury (Cheshire) and delivers a mix of technology transfer, innovation and growth programmes for small business.

RTC CEO, Andrew Buckley, said:

“Productivity forms a key part of the UK’s new industrial strategy and principles such as lean manufacturing play an important role in underpinning future competitiveness. The team is really looking forward to working with the SMAS practitioners and their clients over the next three years.”

The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service is just one of the successful programmes offered by Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main economic development agency and a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, building Scotland’s international competitiveness through innovation, internationalisation, investment and inclusive growth. They work with partners in the public and private sectors to identify and exploit the best opportunities to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy.